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CHAPTER 3
Happiness and Subjective Wellbeing across Nations
L EARNING O BJECTIVES Happiness is not a superficial topic; it has a real benefit for those who experience it in balanced ratios. This chapter will focus on the notion of happiness, specifically on the concept of subjective wellbeing
(SWB), how we measure wellbeing and the most recent findings on the correlates and predictors of happiness within cultures from around the world.
List of topics • Definitions of happiness and subjective wellbeing (SWB). • How we measure SWB. • Global happiness polls. • Highest and lowest SWB-scoring countries.
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• Hedonic adaptation and the hedonic adaptation prevention model. • The burden of choice and its role in influencing our wellbeing.